The discovery of diamonds in 1867 changed South Africa overnight from a backwater to a colony with prospects. The British Government however, was faced with two British colonies, two independent Boer republics and several independent African states. The answer - to the British - was confederation, all under the Union Jack.
Cetshwayo was the Zulu king and had for some years been manipulated by the British against the Transvaal Boers as Zululand was seen as a large untapped resource of mine labour. The Zulus had no inclination to work for the white man and had rejected both settlers and missionaries.
On 11th December 1878 on the basis of several minor border disputes, the British met with the Zulu chiefs and contrived an ultimatum to Cetshwayo that virtually disarmed the entire Zulu nation. An answer was expected within twenty days. The Zulus predictably required more time - taken by the British as a refusal.
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This Tourism Website of the Tourism Attractions of Natal, South Africa and the Historical Attractions was Designed by Durban Website Designers